Raising the Minneapolis Metrodome roof (again)

The Minnesota Vikings endured several disasters in 2010, not the least of which was the deflation of the roof of Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome after record-breaking snowfalls. Birdair Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., plans to restore the roof, replacing the structure’s current 10-acre roof with more than 700,000 square feet of PTFE fiberglass outer and liner membrane material. The roof will feature a lower profile than the original roof, installed by Birdair in 1982, as well as SHEERFILL® panels, an Energy Star® qualified PTFE fabric that will help lower air-conditioning requirements and reduce peak cooling demand by 10-15 percent. The inner liner will feature Fabrasorb® acoustical membranes that reduce noise and reverberation (an ongoing complaint about the Metrodome). Birdair plans to complete the roof rehab in August 2011.